But V-DOT drivers have a lot to
worry about clearing roads late at
night. Safety is thier number one
concern.
VO-NAT VO-NAT

Clarence Boone has been a
snowplow operator for V-DOT for nearly
nine years now.

He says the biggest challenge is
staying awake.
SOT FULL SOT FULL
INQ=CAUSE YOU GET OUT HERE

*CG 2line Clarence Boone
VDOT Driver 3121 CAUSE YOU GET OUT HERE, FOR
12-HOURS AND THAT SNOW IS BEATING DOWN
ON YOU AND KINDA LIKE HYPNOTIZE YOU AND
YOU CAN'T HARDLY SEE ANYWAY YOU GOT
LIKE A WHITEOUT 30
RUNS=09 (END SOT)

OQ=LIKE A WHITEOUT

VO-NAT VO-NAT

Another concern is aggresive
drivers who pass him and throw objects
at his truck for going too slowly.

Boone says heavy snow like we saw
yesterday can be difficult on equipment
and fuel.
(END VO) (END VO)

every school in the region. Virginia
Tech stayed open.
VO-NAT VO-NAT
ENG#=3

*CG locator Blacksburg

The Unversity had a two hour

delay yesterday morning, but kept
running.

Around Noon, though, our cameras
found an empty drillfield.

It appears most students decided
to stay home.
SOT FULL SOT FULL
INQ=you know

*CG 2line Chas Hill
Virginia Tech Senior CHAS HILL: YOU KNOW I THINK A LOT OF
KIDS WERE EXPECTING CLASSES TO BE
CANCELLED ESPECIALLY WITH THEM STARTING
LATE. THE 8 AND 905 CLASSES WERE
CANCELLED. SO I THINK THE KIDS THAT
STARTED AT 10:10 AND LATER FELT A
LITTLE BIT JIPPED SO THEY JUST CALLED
IT A DAY AND WENT BACK TO BED.
RUNS=:12

OQ=back to bed.

VO-NAT VO-NAT

The University usually stays open
unless Blacksburg Transit can't get
around.

jail Friday was hoping the whole
incident had been caught on tape by the
many cameras surrounding the area.
VO-NAT VO-NAT

But it wasn't.

These cameras enable officers to
monitor the jail, but the
superintendent says they're not
connected to video tape recorders.
SOT FULL 12:16:45 SOT FULL
INQ=There's no taping

*CG 2line John Higgins
Jail Superintendent THERE'S NO TAPING OF ANY OF THESE
MONITORS. THE CAMERAS COME BACK TO THE
CONTROL ROOM SO OFFICERS CAN VIEW
WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE
FACILITY.
RUNS=10

OQ=throughout the facility

VO-NAT VO-NAT

While a close watch on the video
monitors in the control room may have
alerted the staff that there was a
scuffle in the parking lot, Higgins
says the cook happened to be outside
and that she was the one who first
reported it.

Senator Phil Puckett says he
wants to do something about rising
healthcare and prescription drug costs.

The Southwest Virginia Senator
says he'd work to lower those costs if
elected lieutenant governor.

The Democrat says Virginians
shouldn't have to chose between filling
their prescriptions and paying their
bills.
SOT FULL SOT FULL
INQ=Virginia families

*CG 2line Sen. Phil Puckett

(D) Candidate for Lt. Governor SEN. PHIL PUCKETT: VIRGINIA FAMILIES

ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND
GETTING THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
UNDER CONTROL COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIFE AND HEALTH OF MOST EVERY
FAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE
COMMONWEALTH.
RUNS=14

OQ=BUSINESSES IN THE COMMONWEALTH

VO-NAT VO-NAT

Puckett has served in the state
senate for the past six years.

The Russell County native is also
a banker, volunteer firefighter and
former school principal.

Senator Puckett plans to make
stops in Lynchburg, Roanoke and
Danville later this week.
(END VO) (END VO)